Phosphate Control in Large Tanks

d2mini · 08/18/2013, 06:35 PM

I just don't see how the same reactor someone is using on a 50g tank is going to do the job on a 300g tank. My tank is a 200g display plus another 150-200g in sump, fuge, and frag tank. This single NextReef MR1 reactor is not really doing it and looking at the amount of flow through it to keep the GFO at a slight tumble, it's no wonder.

So what do those of you with big tanks do to control phosphates?

NCSUsalt · 08/18/2013, 06:37 PM

Lanthanum

d2mini · 08/19/2013, 06:25 AM

Are you using it?

DavidinGA · 08/19/2013, 06:29 AM

I'm using a two little fishes 150 reactor on my 210gal plus 75gal sump and I only fill it 1/3 full of gfo and it does wonders for me. Gfo shouldn't be used as the only line of defense tbough; if you aren't practicing proper husbandry its no wonder your gfo can't keep up.

Usually people with high phosphate issues have a leaching source somewhere (rocks/sand) or are overfeeding/dosing phosphate rich nutrients and are fighting a never ending uphill battle. I say eliminate the root of the problem then it's usually quit easy to handle phosphates.

Lostinthedark · 08/19/2013, 06:41 AM

If your running a fuge that should take care of most of your problem there. I have a similar setup with a 75 fuge that I throw away a basketball size of cheato every month. I have a considerable bio-load and don't run GFO. The cheato keeps the phosphates below .1 and nitrates never register.
I don't dose any food for the corals anymore. When I did it only led to problems. They eat whatever the fish don't and I have no issue with growth or color.

d2mini · 08/19/2013, 08:26 AM

Cheato never does well in my tanks.
I did just set up a new large refugium with various macros so we'll see if that helps or if anything does well. If not, I can only assume the tank doesn't have the nutrients to support it. My mangroves do well though.

Nothing is leaching that i know of. All rock and sand is from TBS, top notch.

Phosphates running a gfo reactor sit around .08. Been like that from the start.

The only thing i can think of that might be contributing to phosphates or nitrates (nitrate stays around 3-4ppm) is my 150g rubber maid tub that has a bunch of live rock in it. Could be trapping too much detritus. Have been thinking of removing it.

thegrun · 08/19/2013, 09:24 AM

CAD lights makes some very nice large tank reactors:
http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=213

Eric45 · 08/19/2013, 12:28 PM

Why don't you try adding more gfo? or try the high-capacity stuff. Either should improve your PO levels. Btw, .1 is high. It should be like .03 or less. Mine is kept around .01 and I still have some hair algae around.

d2mini · 08/19/2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

CAD lights makes some very nice large tank reactors:
http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=213

Thanks! Looks like they are made for biopellets but can be converted to GFO? I don't see the conversion kit though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric45

Why don't you try adding more gfo? or try the high-capacity stuff. Either should improve your PO levels. Btw, .1 is high. It should be like .03 or less. Mine is kept around .01 and I still have some hair algae around.

Sure i could fit more HCGFO in there. But does this really do much since the flow through it would still be tiny compared to the size of the tank?
I know .1 is high.... that's why I'm asking!

My display tank is nuisance algae free other than film on the glass every couple days. My frag tank will get some HA but that's it.

08/18/2013, 06:35 PM	#1
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Phosphate Control in Large Tanks I just don't see how the same reactor someone is using on a 50g tank is going to do the job on a 300g tank. My tank is a 200g display plus another 150-200g in sump, fuge, and frag tank. This single NextReef MR1 reactor is not really doing it and looking at the amount of flow through it to keep the GFO at a slight tumble, it's no wonder. So what do those of you with big tanks do to control phosphates? __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

08/19/2013, 06:25 AM	#3
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Are you using it? __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

08/19/2013, 06:29 AM	#4
DavidinGA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 2,393	I'm using a two little fishes 150 reactor on my 210gal plus 75gal sump and I only fill it 1/3 full of gfo and it does wonders for me. Gfo shouldn't be used as the only line of defense tbough; if you aren't practicing proper husbandry its no wonder your gfo can't keep up. Usually people with high phosphate issues have a leaching source somewhere (rocks/sand) or are overfeeding/dosing phosphate rich nutrients and are fighting a never ending uphill battle. I say eliminate the root of the problem then it's usually quit easy to handle phosphates. __________________ Giant money pit, but it's a happy pit ;) Current tank: 6ft 210gal SPS, 3~eBay led boxes, 4~80w T5's, sro3000int, RW20's, Reef Angel, reactors, pumps, rocks, sand, yadda yadda yadda...

08/19/2013, 08:26 AM	#6
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Cheato never does well in my tanks. I did just set up a new large refugium with various macros so we'll see if that helps or if anything does well. If not, I can only assume the tank doesn't have the nutrients to support it. My mangroves do well though. Nothing is leaching that i know of. All rock and sand is from TBS, top notch. Phosphates running a gfo reactor sit around .08. Been like that from the start. The only thing i can think of that might be contributing to phosphates or nitrates (nitrate stays around 3-4ppm) is my 150g rubber maid tub that has a bunch of live rock in it. Could be trapping too much detritus. Have been thinking of removing it. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

08/18/2013, 06:37 PM	#2
NCSUsalt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: raleigh, NC Posts: 619	Lanthanum

08/19/2013, 06:41 AM	#5
Lostinthedark Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Freehold, NJ Posts: 342	If your running a fuge that should take care of most of your problem there. I have a similar setup with a 75 fuge that I throw away a basketball size of cheato every month. I have a considerable bio-load and don't run GFO. The cheato keeps the phosphates below .1 and nitrates never register. I don't dose any food for the corals anymore. When I did it only led to problems. They eat whatever the fish don't and I have no issue with growth or color.

08/19/2013, 09:24 AM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	CAD lights makes some very nice large tank reactors: http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=213

08/19/2013, 12:28 PM	#8
Eric45 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 725	Why don't you try adding more gfo? or try the high-capacity stuff. Either should improve your PO levels. Btw, .1 is high. It should be like .03 or less. Mine is kept around .01 and I still have some hair algae around.